Debris diverter for rotary cutterbar

ABSTRACT

A rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly for diverting debris includes a cutterbar housing defining an internal cavity and a bearing housing defining an axis and coupled to the cutterbar housing. A labyrinth is defined in the bearing housing circumferentially about the axis, and a barrier is formed by the bearing housing at a location radially outward of the labyrinth. A disk hub is positioned concentric with the axis and coupled to the bearing housing and cutterbar housing. The disk hub forms at least one protrusion that extends towards the bearing housing and is radially adjacent to the labyrinth. The barrier restricts a portion of the debris from entering the labyrinth, and the at least one protrusion severs debris that is disposed near the labyrinth as the disk hub rotates.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 62/303,438, filed Mar. 4, 2016, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a rotary mower configured to cut cropmaterial, and more particularly to components of a rotary cutterbar.

BACKGROUND

Agricultural equipment, such as a tractor or a self-propelled windrower,includes a prime mover which generates power to perform work. In thecase of a tractor, for instance, the prime mover is often a dieselengine that generates power from a supply of diesel fuel. The dieselengine drives a transmission which moves wheels, treads, or tracks topropel the tractor across an underlying surface. In addition toproviding power to wheels through a transmission, tractors often includea power takeoff (PTO) which includes a shaft coupled to the transmissionand driven by the engine.

In different embodiments, a mower or mower conditioner is a separablemachine which is configured to be attached to and detached from atractor or other work machine, which either pushes the mower or pullsthe mower. In the separable mower, the mower is removably coupled to thetractor and is readily moved from one tractor to another if desired. Inthese embodiments, the mower is powered by the PTO of the tractor or ahydraulic motor system thereof.

SUMMARY

One embodiment may be a rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly for reducingdebris infiltration into a bearing, comprising a cutterbar housing thatdefines an internal cavity and has a cutting side; an aperture in thehousing providing access to the internal cavity; a bearing housingdefining an axis and coupled to the cutterbar housing at the aperture,the bearing coupled to the bearing housing and concentric with the axis;a first labyrinth defined in the bearing housing circumferentially aboutthe axis; an arc-shaped barrier defined by the bearing housing radiallyoutward of the first labyrinth; a shaft extending from the internalcavity and through the bearing; a disk hub positioned concentric withthe axis and coupled to the shaft; a second labyrinth defined in thedisk hub that corresponds with the first labyrinth; at least oneprotrusion defined by the disk hub extending towards the bearing housingand radially adjacent to the first labyrinth; wherein, the arc-shapedbarrier restricts a portion of the debris from entering the first andsecond labyrinth; wherein, when the disk hub rotates, the protrusionrotates to sever debris that becomes disposed radially adjacent to thelabyrinth.

In one example, the first labyrinth may have a first raised annular ringat a first radial distance from the axis; a first recessed annulargroove adjacent to the first raised annular ring at a second radialdistance from the axis; and a second raised annular ring radiallyadjacent to the first recessed annular groove at a third radial distancefrom the axis; wherein, the second radial distance is less than thefirst radial distance and greater than the third radial distance. Thesecond labyrinth may have a second recessed annular groove at the thirdradial distance from the axis; and a third raised annular ring radiallyadjacent to the second recessed annular groove at the second radialdistance from the axis.

In another example, the arc-shaped barrier may extend from the bearinghousing towards the disk hub on the cutting side of the bearing housing.Further, the arc-shaped barrier may extend less than 360 degrees aroundthe bearing housing.

In another example, the at least one protrusion may have a wedge shapethat forces debris positioned along the radially outer portion of thefirst labyrinth radially away from the axis when the disk hub rotatesrelative to the bearing housing.

In another example, the rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly may have aprime mover configured to generate a torque; a torque transfer assemblypositioned within the internal cavity and coupled to the shaft totransfer the torque generated by the prime mover thereto; and at leastone spline defined by the shaft and coupling the disk hub to the shaft;wherein, when the torque produced by the prime mover is substantiallyresisted by the disk hub, the at least one spline shears from the diskhub.

Another embodiment may be a modular rotary cutterbar assembly forreducing debris infiltration into a bearing, comprising a modularcutterbar having an internal cavity defined therein; a torque transferassembly positioned within the internal cavity; a prime mover coupled tothe torque transfer assembly to provide a torque thereto; wherein themodular cutterbar is a plurality of cutterbar modules coupled to oneanother, each cutterbar module comprising an aperture in the housingproviding access to the internal cavity; a bearing housing defining anaxis and coupled to the cutterbar housing at the aperture; a bearingcoupled to the bearing housing concentric with the axis; a firstlabyrinth defined in the bearing housing circumferentially about theaxis; an arc-shaped barrier defined by the bearing housing outwardly ofthe first labyrinth; a shaft coupled to the torque transfer assembly andextending from the internal cavity through the bearing; a disk hubpositioned concentric with the axis and coupled to the shaft; a secondlabyrinth defined in the disk hub that corresponds with the firstlabyrinth; at least one protrusion defined by the disk hub extendingtowards the bearing housing and radially adjacent to and outward of thefirst labyrinth; wherein, the arc-shaped barrier restricts a portion ofthe debris from entering the first and second labyrinth; wherein, whenthe disk hub rotates, the protrusion rotates to sever any portion of thedebris that becomes disposed radially adjacent to the labyrinth.

In one example, the first labyrinth may have a first raised annular ringat a first radial distance from the axis; a first recessed annulargroove adjacent to the first raised annular ring at a second radialdistance from the axis; and a second raised annular ring radiallyadjacent to the first recessed annular groove at a third radial distancefrom the axis; wherein, the second radial distance is less than thefirst radial distance and greater than the third radial distance. Thesecond labyrinth may have a second recessed annular groove at the thirdradial distance from the axis; and a third raised annular ring radiallyadjacent to the second recessed annular groove at the second radialdistance from the axis.

In another example, the arc-shaped barrier may extend from the bearinghousing towards the disk hub proximate to the cutting side of thebearing housing. Further, the arc-shaped barrier may not extend 360degrees about the axis around the bearing housing.

In another example, the at least one protrusion may have a wedge shapethat forces debris positioned along the radially outer portion of thefirst labyrinth radially away from the axis when the disk hub rotatesrelative to the bearing housing.

In another example, the rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly may have atleast one spline defined by the shaft and coupling the disk hub to theshaft; wherein, when the torque produced by the prime mover issubstantially resisted by the disk hub, the at least one spline willshear from the disk hub.

Another embodiment may be a system for reducing debris infiltration intoa bearing of a cutterbar assembly, comprising a work machine having achassis; at least one ground engaging mechanism coupled to the chassisand adapted to provide movement to the work machine; a prime movercoupled to the chassis and adapted to selectively provide power to thework machine; at least one elongated rotary cutterbar assembly coupledto the chassis, the cutterbar assembly comprising a cutterbar housingthat defines an internal cavity and has a cutting side; an aperture inthe cutterbar housing providing access to the internal cavity; a bearinghousing defining an axis and coupled to the cutterbar housing at theaperture; a bearing coupled to the bearing housing and concentric withthe axis; a first raised annular ring defined in the bearing housingconcentric about the axis; an arc-shaped barrier defined by the bearinghousing; a shaft extending from the internal cavity and through thebearing; a disk hub positioned concentric with the axis and coupled tothe shaft; a second raised annular ring defined by the disk hub radiallywithin the first raised annular ring and extending away from the diskhub towards the bearing housing; at least one protrusion defined by thedisk hub extending towards the bearing housing and radially outside ofthe first raised annular ring; wherein, the arc-shaped barrier restrictsa portion of the debris from contacting the bearing; wherein, when thedisk hub rotates, the protrusion rotates to sever any portion of thedebris that becomes disposed radially adjacent to the first raisedannular ring.

In one example, the bearing housing may have a first recessed annulargroove defined about the axis adjacent to and radially inside of thefirst raised annular ring; and a second raised annular ring definedabout the axis radially adjacent and inward of the first recessedannular groove. Further, the disk hub may have a second recessed annulargroove defined about the axis that corresponds radially with the secondraised annular ring of the bearing housing; and a third raised annularring defined about the axis that corresponds radially with the firstrecessed annular groove of the bearing housing; wherein, when the diskhub is coupled to the bearing housing, the third raised annular ring isat least partially disposed in the first recessed annular groove.

In another example, when the disk hub is coupled to the bearing housing,the second raised annular ring may be at least partially disposed in thesecond recessed annular groove.

In another example, the at least one protrusion may have a wedge shapethat forces debris positioned along the radially outer portion of thefirst raised annular ring radially away from the axis when the disk hubrotates relative to the bearing housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner ofobtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself willbe better understood by reference to the following description of theembodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a windrower including a tractorcoupled to a mower conditioner;

FIG. 2 is an isolated perspective view of a cutterbar assembly;

FIG. 3 is a partial top-side perspective view of a disk guard coupled tothe cutterbar assembly with a cutting disk removed;

FIG. 4 is a partial top-side perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.3 with the disk guard removed;

FIG. 5 is an elevated perspective view of the cutterbar assembly withthe disk guard removed;

FIG. 6 is bottom section view of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a bottom partial section view of the cutterbar assembly withthe disk guard removed;

FIG. 8 is an isolated perspective view of the disk guard removed fromthe cutterbar assembly;

FIG. 9 is a section side-view of the cutterbar assembly with the diskguard coupled thereto;

FIG. 10a is a topside view of a modular cutterbar assembly with thecutting disks removed;

FIG. 10b is a perspective view of a second end cap of the modularcutterbar assembly of FIG. 10 a;

FIG. 10c is a different perspective view of the second end cap of themodular cutterbar assembly of FIG. 10 a;

FIG. 11a is a partial section view of the modular cutterbar assembly ofFIG. 10 a;

FIG. 11b is an expanded partial section view of FIG. 11 a;

FIG. 11c is a partial exploded view of the modular cutterbar assembly ofFIG. 10 a;

FIG. 12 is an isolated perspective view of one module from the modularcutterbar assembly of FIG. 10 a;

FIG. 13 is a section view of the modular cutterbar assembly of FIG. 10a;

FIG. 14 is a partial rear view of the cutterbar assembly of FIG. 10 a;

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the components of a disk hubassembly;

FIG. 16a is a section view of the disk hub assembly positioned withinthe cutterbar assembly;

FIG. 16b is an expanded section view of FIG. 16 a;

FIG. 17 is a top section view of the disk hub assembly positioned withinthe cutterbar assembly;

FIG. 18 is a partial top-side perspective view of the disk guard coupledto the cutterbar assembly with an extension arm;

FIG. 19 is another embodiment of a partial top-side perspective view ofa disk guard coupled to the cutterbar assembly with a cutting diskremoved; and

FIG. 20 is another embodiment of a section view of the modular cutterbarassembly of FIG. 10 a.

Corresponding reference numerals are used to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thepresent disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodimentsdescribed herein and illustrated in the drawings and specific languagewill be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understoodthat no limitation of the scope of the present disclosure is therebyintended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrateddevices and methods, and such further applications of the principles ofthe present disclosure as illustrated therein being contemplated aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the presentdisclosure relates.

In one embodiment, a rotary cutterbar assembly is used as a cuttingelement for the mower. The rotary cutterbar assembly is an elongatedhousing that contains a drive assembly to distribute rotational torqueprovided by the prime mover to a plurality of cutting disks. In turn,the cutting disks rotate knives coupled thereto to sever any underlyingcrop from the ground. Typically, the cutterbar is positioned to closelyfollow the underlying surface. In this configuration, the cutterbaroften contacts any material that does not closely align with theunderlying surface. For example, rocks, dirt piles, stumps, or the likemay protrude from the underlying surface and contact the cutterbar as ittravels thereover.

To address the potential contact between the cutterbar and theunderlying surface, disk guards are positioned along the cutterbar at alocation that corresponds with each of the rotating disks. The diskguards are sized to absorb the force applied to the cutterbar when itcontacts underlying objects. In addition to substantially absorbing theimpact, the disk guards also deflect the cutterbar away from theunderlying object so the cutterbar can travel thereover. Accordingly,the disk guard has sufficient structural integrity to withstand contactwith an underlying object and to raise the cutterbar thereover.

Cutterbar assemblies are also typically formed from a plurality ofmodules coupled to one another. Each module contains a portion of thedrive assembly and cutting disk and a different number of modules isused to accommodate cutterbar assemblies having different lengths. Thecutterbar assemblies are often supported either through beingcantilevered from one side of the cutterbar assembly or through supportson both sides of the cutterbar assembly. In one embodiment, the moduleswithin the cutterbar assembly are coupled to one another to avoidsubstantial deflection of the cutterbar assembly during use. Further,the modules are coupled to one another to absorb an impact to the diskguard from an underlying object as described above. Often the modulesare coupled to one another at a front end and a rear end andadditionally coupled to a beam that spans the entire width of thecutterbar assembly to provide supplemental structural support.

Further, each cutting disk may be rotatably coupled to the cutterbarassembly through a bearing positioned about a cutting disk shaft locatedunder the cutting disk. As the mower executes the cutting function whilethe tractor moves along the underlying surface, debris frequentlybecomes positioned proximate to, or within, the bearing. In someinstances, string-like debris may become wrapped around the cutting diskshaft and provide a resistance to the desired rotation of the cuttingdisk.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a self-propelled crop harvestingmachine or other work machine 100 operable to cut and collect standingcrop in a field, condition the cut crop as it moves through a mowerconditioner machine to improve its drying characteristics, and thenreturn the cut and conditioned crop material to the field in a windrowor swath. The crop harvesting machine is also known as a mower, mowerconditioner, or a windrower. The crop harvesting machine 100 moves alongthe field in a harvesting direction or direction of travel 110. The cropharvesting machine 100 includes a main frame 112 supported on drivenright and left front wheels, of which only the left front wheel 114(with respect to the operator) is shown and on right and left castermounted rear wheels, of which only a left rear wheel 118 is shown.However, in one embodiment tracks may be used instead of wheels and thisdisclosure is not limited to any particular type of ground engagingmechanism. Carried on a forward end region of the frame 112 is a cab120. Mounted on the frame 112 behind the cab 120 is a housing 122 withinwhich is located a prime mover (not shown), such as an internalcombustion engine.

A mower 124 is coupled to and supported by the forward end of the frame112. Operator controls (not shown) are provided in the cab 120 foroperation of the crop harvesting machine 100, including the attachedmower 124. The harvesting header, in one embodiment, includes one ormore ground engaging devices, such as one or more skid shoes or wheels(not shown), to support the mower 124 during movement across a field. Inone embodiment, the harvesting header does not include a traction drive.Instead, all of its power may come from the windrower traction unit orthe tractor.

While a harvesting header is described above, this disclosure applies toother types of headers or mowers as well. In one embodiment, the mowerdoes not have the conditioner described above. Further, while the mower124 is shown and described mounted towards the forward end of the frame112, this disclosure includes mowers mounted to any portion of the workmachine 100. More specifically, the mower may be mounted off to one sideof the frame 112 instead of towards the forward end. Further still, awork machine 100 may have a rear mount hitch (not shown) for coupling tothe mower 124. In one embodiment, a PTO may provide power to the mower124 to cut the underlying crop. In other embodiments, a hydraulic orelectric motor may be coupled to the mower 124 to provide power thereto.The hydraulic or electric power may be provided to the mower by theprime mover of the work machine 100. This disclosure is inclusive ofmany different mounting locations and drive systems for the mower 124.Accordingly, no particular mounting location or drive system isnecessary.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a cutterbar assembly 200 having a housing 202with a front edge 206, a rear edge 226, a first surface 208 and a secondsurface 210 is shown. The cutterbar assembly 200 may be a rotarycutterbar positioned within the mower 124 and able to cut underlyingcrop as the work machine 100 moves in the harvesting direction 110. Morespecifically, the housing 202 may define a cutterbar axis 204. Thecutterbar axis 204 can be substantially perpendicular to the harvestingdirection 110 to expose a front edge 206 of the cutterbar assembly 200to the underlying crop as the work machine 100 travels in the harvestdirection 110.

The housing 202 may define an inner cavity 1144 (see FIG. 11c ). Theinner cavity 1144 may provide for a location for a drive transfermechanism (not shown in FIG. 2) to be positioned within the cutterbarassembly 200. The drive transfer mechanism may utilize any known methodfor transferring torque. In one embodiment, a plurality of gears may bepositioned within the inner cavity 1144 and coupled to one another totransfer torque throughout the drive transfer mechanism. In anotherembodiment, belts and pulleys may be used. In yet another embodiment,drive shafts may be rotatably coupled to one another to create the drivetransfer mechanism. A person having skill in the art will understand themany ways to transfer torque and this disclosure is not limited to anyparticular type of drive transfer mechanism disposed within the cavity1144.

The first surface 208 may be defined along an upper portion of thecutterbar assembly 200 relative to the underlying surface. Further, thefirst surface 208 may provide a plurality of apertures 1020 (see FIGS.10b , 12, 15) spaced along the cutterbar axis 204. The apertures 1020may allow one or more disk hub assemblies 212 to be coupled to the drivetransfer mechanism.

The disk hub assemblies 212 may have a cutting disk 214 coupled thereto.More specifically, the drive transfer mechanism may transfer torque tothe disk hub assembly 212 and rotate the cutting disk 214 that iscoupled thereto. The cutting disk 214 may have at least one knife 216coupled thereto at a radially outer portion of the cutting disk 214. Theknife 216 may be pivotally coupled to the cutting disk 214 on one endand define a cutting surface at the other. The rotation of the cuttingdisk 214 may be sufficient to allow each knife 216 to rotate about thecutting disk 214 with sufficient speed to cut any crop that may contactthe cutting surface of the knife 216.

In one non-exclusive embodiment, the disk hub assembly 212 may define adisk axis 218 that is substantially perpendicular to the cutterbar axis204. The cutting disk 214 may define a disk radius 220 about the diskaxis 218 and the radially outer portion of the knife 216 may define aknife radius 222 as it rotates about the disk axis 218. In onenon-exclusive example, the disk radius 220 is less than the knife radius222.

At least one disk guard 224 is also shown in FIG. 2. The disk guard 224may be coupled to the housing 202 towards the front edge 206 and extendaway from the front edge 206 in the harvest direction 110. The diskguard 224 may also be positioned along the cutterbar assembly 200 inalignment with the respective disk hub assembly 212.

In one embodiment, the disk guard 224 may be positionedcircumferentially about a portion of the disk axis 218 at a radiusslightly greater than the disk radius 220 but less than the knife radius222. In this embodiment, the cutterbar assembly 200 may contact anunderlying object such as a stump, a rock, a stick, or the like. If thecutterbar assembly 200 encounters the underlying object as it travels inthe harvest direction 110, the disk guard 224 may contact the objectbefore the cutting disk 214. As the disk guard 224 contacts the object,the disk guard 224 may either force the cutterbar assembly 200 away fromthe object, or force the object away from the cutterbar assembly 200,thereby protecting the cutting disk 214 from being damaged.

The disk guard 224 may also be positioned to allow the radially outerportion of a respective knife 216 to extend past the disk guard 224 inthe harvest direction 110 as the knife 216 rotates with the cutting disk214. In this configuration, the knife 216 may contact and cut any croppositioned within the knife radius 222 before the disk guard 224contacts the crop. In one embodiment, if the cutterbar assembly 200contacts an object in the underlying surface as it travels in theharvest direction 110, the respective knife 216 may contact the objectbefore the disk guard 224 contacts the object. When this happens, theknife 216 may pivot relative to the cutting disk 214 to avoidsubstantial damage. As the cutterbar assembly 200 continues to move inthe harvest direction 110 towards the object, the disk guard 224 maycontact the object before the rotating cutting disk 214. Accordingly, asthe cutterbar assembly 200 moves in the harvest direction 110 towardsthe object, the knife 116 may first contact, and rotate away from, theobject. Then the disk guard 224 may deflect the cutterbar assembly 200away from the object, or vice versa, to protect the cutting disk 214.

While the radius of the disk guard 224 has been described as slightlygreater than the disk radius 220, this disclosure is not limited tosuch. More specifically, in one embodiment the disk guard 224 radius maybe the same as the disk radius 220. In yet another embodiment the diskguard 224 radius may be less than the disk radius 220. Further still,the disk guard 224 is not limited to having a radius at all. Forinstance, the disk guard 224 may not be defined along a radius but havea different shape, such as a square, rectangle, triangle, trapezoid,oval or the like. In yet another non-exclusive example, the disk guard224 may have a radius similar to the disk radius 220 but have an axisoffset from the disk axis 218. Accordingly, this disclosure considersmany different shapes for the disk guard 224 and is not limited to anyparticular one.

Now referring to FIG. 3, a partial view of the cutterbar assembly 200 isshown with the cutting disk 214 removed. More specifically, a first tab302 and a second tab 304 are shown along the front edge 206 of thehousing 202. The first tab 302 may be a first portion or location of thehousing 202 where the disk guard 224 can be coupled to the housing 202.Similarly, the second tab 304 may be a second portion or location of thehousing 202 where the disk guard 224 can be coupled to the housing 202.In one non-exclusive embodiment, the first and second tabs 302, 304 maydefine a tab plane 502 (see FIG. 5) that extends between the first andsecond surface 208, 210 (also shown in FIG. 5).

The disk guard 224 may be coupled to the housing 202 at both the firstand second tabs 302, 304 and extend toward the harvest direction 110.The disk guard 224 may have a substantially arc-shaped outer lip 306that extends from a first receiver 802 (see FIG. 8) that is proximate tothe first tab 302 to a second receiver 804 (see FIG. 8) that isproximate to the second tab 304.

In one embodiment, the lip 306 may define a lip plane (not specificallyshown). The lip plane may be substantially parallel to the first surface208. Further, in one embodiment the lip plane may be coplanar with aplane defined by the first surface 208. The lip 306 may be spaced fromthe cutting disk 214 to substantially protect the cutting disk 214 fromunderlying objects without contacting the cutting disk 214 as it rotatesas described above. In another embodiment, the lip plane may beangularly offset from the first surface 208. In this embodiment, the lipplane may angle away from the cutting disk 214. By angling away from thecutting disk, the disk guard 224 may deflect without coming into contactwith the cutting disk 214.

The disk guard 224 may also define a first rib 308 that extends from anarea near the first tab 302 towards a nose section 312 of the outer lip306. Similarly, the disk guard may define a second rib 310 that extendsfrom an area near the second tab 304 towards the nose section 312. Thefirst rib 308 and the second rib 310 may be extensions from the surfaceof the disk guard 224 towards the lip plane.

Further, the disk guard 224 may have a base section 314 that ispositioned along a portion of the housing 202. That is to say, the basesection 314 may have a bottom surface that is coplanar or slightlyoutward of the housing 202. The base section 314 may be sized andpositioned to allow the cutterbar assembly 200 to slide along theunderlying surface. More specifically, the base section 314 may beco-planar with, or extend away from, the housing 202 to reduce anyleading edges that may get caught on debris along the underlying surfaceas the work machine travels in the harvest direction 110.

A different embodiment of the disk guard 224 is shown in FIG. 19. Here,an opening or through-hole 1900 is defined near a central portion of thedisk guard. The opening or through-hole 1900 provides access forchanging one or more knives (not shown). This opening or through-hole isdefined along a direction of travel 110, as shown in FIG. 19. Moreover,to provide additional support in this portion of the disk guard, theouter lip 306 protrudes outwardly in the direction of travel 110 to formthe nose section 312. The nose section 312 is more pronounced in FIG. 19compared to FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a partial view of the cutterbar assembly 200 isshown with the cutting disk 214 and the disk guard 224 removed. Morespecifically shown in FIG. 4 are a first stop surface 404 and a secondstop surface 406. The first stop surface 404 may be positioned along thefront edge 206 spaced from the first tab 302 relative to the disk axis218. Similarly, the second stop surface 406 may be positioned spacedfrom the second tab 304 relative to the disk axis 218. Further, both thefirst and second stop surface 404, 406 may be positioned offset from thetab plane 502 towards the first surface 208, i.e., the first and secondstop surfaces may be disposed at a location above the tab plane 502 asshown in FIG. 5.

A cross-section of the tab plane 502 is shown in FIG. 5. Morespecifically, the offset spacing of the first and second stop surface404, 406 is more clearly shown. In one non-limiting example, the firstand second stop surface 404, 406 may be offset from the tab plane 502 byan offset distance 504 that allows a portion of the stop surfaces 404,406 to be aligned with the top surface 208.

Now referring to FIG. 6, an extension 602 of the disk guard 224 isshown. In one non-exclusive embodiment, there may be more than oneextension 602. The extension 602 may be positioned along a portion ofthe front edge 206 between the first tab 302 and the second tab 304.Further, in one embodiment the extension 602 may extend from the frontedge 206 toward the rear edge 226 adjacent to a portion of the housing202. In another embodiment, the extension 602 may extend between thefirst tab 302 and the second tab 304 along the housing 202 and the frontedge 206. Further, in one non-limiting example, the extension 602 mayassist in properly aligning the disk guard 224 with the housing 202.

To accommodate the extension 602, the housing 202 may define at leastone indentation 702 as shown in FIG. 7. The indentation 702 may bepositioned to correspond with the respective extension 602. In thisconfiguration, the indentation 702 may be sufficiently deep into anouter surface of the housing 202 to provide for a substantially planaror otherwise smooth transition between an outer surface of the diskguard 224 and the outer surface of the housing 202. In other words, theindentation 702 may be as deep as the respective extension 602 is thick.

In one embodiment, the extension 602 or other portion of the disk guard224 may extend past the outer surface of the housing 202. In thisembodiment, the disk guard 224 may be the first portion of the cutterbarassembly 200 to contact the underlying surface. The disk guard 224 maybe sized to slide along the underlying surface while substantiallyrestricting the other components of the cutterbar assembly 200 fromcoming into contact with the underlying surface. In other words, therespective disk guards 224 may be configured to be the main contactpoint between the cutterbar assembly 200 and the underlying surface.Accordingly, if the housing 202 or disk guard 224 contact the underlyingsurface while the cutterbar assembly 200 is travelling in the harvestdirection 110, the extension 602 positioned within the indentation 702may allow the cutterbar 200 to smoothly travel along the underlyingsurface.

Now referring to FIG. 8, an isolated perspective view of the disk guard224 is shown. More specifically, the first receiver 802 and the secondreceiver 804 are shown at the terminating ends of the outer lip 306. Thefirst and second receivers 802, 804 may be surfaces defined by the diskguard 224 and positioned to be adjacent to the respective first andsecond stop surfaces 404, 406 when the disk guard 224 is coupled to thecutterbar 200. In other words, the first and second receivers 802, 804may each be a substantially planar surface of the outer lip 306 that isadjacent to the respective first and second stop surface 404, 406. Inthe coupled position, each receiver surface may be spaced from therespective stop surface. Contact between the receiver surface and stopsurface may be initiated only when the disk guard 224 deflects uponcontact with an underlying object. In an alternative embodiment, thefirst and second receiver surfaces 802, 804 may be in direct contactwhen the disk guard 224 is coupled to the housing. In this alternativeembodiment, however, there may be limited movement of the disk guard 224as it deflects upon contact with an underlying object.

In one non-limiting example, coupling the disk guard 224 to therespective tabs 302, 304 may substantially inhibit movement of the diskguard 224 relative to the housing 202. Additionally, the first andsecond receivers 802, 804 may also substantially restrict the disk guard224 from deflecting towards the cutting disk 214 when an underlyingobject is contacted. In one example, when an object is contacted by thedisk guard 224, the first and second receivers 802, 804 may contact therespective first and second stop surface 404, 406 to substantiallyinhibit deflection of the disk guard 224 relative to the housing 202.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 8, the disk guard 224 forms a body800. The body may include a radial front edge or lip 306 as shown. Thebody 800 includes a front end 810 and a rear end 812. For orientationpurposes, the front end 810 of the body is disposed in a directiontowards the travel direction 110, whereas the rear end 812 is disposedclosest to the housing 202. As previously described, the outer lip orfront edge radially terminates and forms the first receiver surface 802at a first end and the second receiver surface 804 at a second end. Thefirst and second receiver surfaces are oriented towards the rear end 812of the body and thus face the housing 202 and its stop surfaces.

Rearward of the outer lip 306 is a rear surface 814 of the body 800. Therear surface 814 may be substantially planar and define a radial orU-shaped opening 816 as shown in FIG. 8. The rear surface 814 may bedefined along a first plane, although in various embodiments only aportion thereof may be planar. The body 800 may also include a firstraised or offset surface 818 and a second raised or offset surface 820.The first offset surface 818 may be partially disposed along a secondplane, and the second offset surface 820 may be partially disposed alonga third plane. In one example, the first plane is offset and disposed ata location below the second and third planes. In another example, thesecond plane and third plane may be coplanar. In a further example, thefirst plane, second plane, and third plane may be parallel to oneanother. Alternatively, at least one of the first plane, second plane,and third plane may not be parallel to the other two planes.

The first offset surface 818 may be planarly disposed and define a firstopening 822. The first opening 822 may be in alignment with either thefirst or second tab of the housing 202. A fastener (e.g., screw, bolt,etc.) may be disposed through the first opening and a correspondingopening of the respective tab to securely couple the disk guard 224 tothe housing 202. Likewise, the second offset surface 820 may be planarlydisposed and define a second opening 824. The second opening 824 may bein alignment with the other of the first or second tab of the housing202. Another fastener may be disposed through the second opening 824 anda corresponding opening in the respective tab for securely coupling thedisk guard 224 to the housing 202. The design of the disk guard 224 mayvary from that described above. While the front edge or outer lip 306 isdescribed as being radial, it is further possible that the front edge orouter lip 306 is squared off or has any known design.

As also shown in the embodiment of FIG. 8, the first and second rib 308,310 may also have a third and fourth receiver surface 806, 808 definedat the respective terminus of the rib. The third and fourth receiversurface 806, 808 may function in substantially the same way as the firstand second receiver 802, 804 described above. More specifically, thethird and fourth receiver surfaces 806, 808 may also correspond with athird and fourth stop surface (not specifically shown) defined in thehousing 202. In this embodiment, the third and fourth receiver 806, 808may contact the third and fourth stop surface to provide supplementalreinforcement to inhibit deflection of the disk guard 224 relative tothe housing.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a section view with a force diagram 900 isshown representing how the disk guard 224 may react to a force input 902caused by contact with an underlying object or other obstructionencountered when the work machine 100 is moving in the harvest direction110. As shown in FIG. 9, the force input 902 may act on a leadingportion of the disk guard 224 to apply a force to the disk guard 224away from the underlying surface and toward the first surface 208 of thehousing 202.

The disk guard 224 may be coupled to the first tab 302 with a coupler904 to define a primary pivot axis 906 at the coupling location. Thecoupler 904 may be a screw, bolt, rivet, or other similar couplinghardware, and this disclosure is not limited to any particular type ofcoupler 904. The primary pivot axis 906 may be the axis about which thedisk guard 224 pivots responsive to the force input 902. An illustrativedeflection force 908 or torque is shown as an example of a force thatmay be experienced by the disk guard 224 during an impact causing theforce input 902. The first receiver's 802 alignment and contact with thefirst stop surface 404 may apply a sufficient resistive force 910 tosubstantially counter the pivot force 908 and thereby prohibit the diskguard 224 from deflecting about the primary pivot axis 906. Although notspecifically shown, the second receiver 802 and stop surface 406 mayalso react in substantially the same way.

As shown and described above, the spacing of the first stop surface 404and first receiver 802 offset from the tab plane 502 may allow for asufficient resistive force 910 to avoid deflection of the disk guard 224relative to the housing 202. Accordingly, the cutterbar assembly 200 mayrespond to the force input 902 by lifting off of the underlying surfaceto pass over the underlying object. However, in another embodiment, onlya portion of the cutterbar assembly 200 may lift to overcome the objectresponsive to the force input 902.

An extension arm 1802 may also provide additional structural support tothe disk guard 224 as shown in FIG. 18. The extension arm 1802 mayextend from the housing 202 towards the nose section 312 of the diskguard 224 and terminate proximate to the surface of the disk guard 224.Further, the housing 202 may define a receiver or opening for theextension arm 1802 to be coupled to the housing 202. In one embodiment,the extension arm 1802 may be coupled to a first coupler mount 1110 viaone or more shoulder bolt 1132 or the like as described in more detailbelow regarding FIGS. 11a -11 c.

The extension 1802 may have a housing contact surface 1804 where theextension arm 1802 may contact the housing 202 to resist deflectioncaused by the force input 902. More specifically, the contact surface1804 may restrict the extension arm 1802 from pivoting about theshoulder bolt 1132 by contacting the front edge 206 of the housing 202.If the disk guard 224 experiences the force input 902, the extension arm1802 may provide additional resistance to the disk guard 224 to reducedeflection.

The extension arm 1802 may also substantially resist pivoting about theshoulder bolt 1132 because of the clamping force of the shoulder bolt1132 along the first coupler mount 1110. Accordingly, the extension arm1802 may add rigidity between the disk guard 224 and the housing 202 toaid the first and second receivers 802, 804 in resisting deflection ofthe disk guard 224 relative to the housing 202.

While the extension arm 1802 has been described above as extending fromthe first coupler mount 1110, in one embodiment it may extend from thedisk guard 224 instead. In this embodiment, the extension arm 1802 maybe removably coupled to the disk guard 224 and extend to a receiverdefined at the front edge 206 or otherwise in the housing 202. In thisembodiment, the extension arm 1802 may function in substantially thesame way as described above.

While the extension arm 1802 has been shown and described as beingremovably coupled between the disk guard 224 and the housing 202, theextension arm 1802 may also be integrally formed with the housing 202.In this embodiment, when the disk guard 224 is coupled to the housing202 as described above, the extension arm 1802 may become positionedadjacent to a receiver defined in the disk guard 224. Accordingly, noadditional couplers are needed to utilize the extension arm 1802.Alternatively, the extension arm 1802 may be integrally formed with thedisk guard 224 and extend to a receiver in the housing 202. Thisdisclosure is not limited to any particular coupling method of theextension arm 1802 between the disk guard 224 and the housing 202.

In a different embodiment of the cutterbar assembly, a plurality ofmodules 1002 may be coupled to one another to form a modular cutterbar1000 as shown in FIG. 10a . In FIG. 10a the plurality of modules 1002are shown coupled to one another with the cutting disks 214 removed.With the cutting disks 214 removed, one or more joints 1004 may be seenbetween adjacent modules 1002. The joints 1004 may be correspondingadjacent surfaces of each module 1002. The joints 1004 are sized toallow one module 1002 to be coupled to an adjacent module 1002 along thejoint 1004 to form a substantially fluidly sealed connection at thejoint 1004. The joints 1004 may be defined along a surface plane (notparticularly shown) that is not perpendicular to the cutterbar axis 204.For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 10A, the one or more joints 1004may be angularly disposed relative to the cutterbar axis 204. However,this disclosure is not limited to such a spatial configuration of thejoints 1004 and in a different embodiment the joint plane may be atleast partially perpendicular to the cutterbar axis 204.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 10a , the modular cutterbar assembly1000 may function in substantially the same way as the cutterbarassembly 200 described above. However, the housing 202 may include aplurality of modules 1002 coupled to one another along adjoiningadjacent ends at each respective joint 1004.

Each module 1002 may be substantially identical to the adjacent module1002. Further, each module 1002 may define a portion of the inner cavity1144 and house a portion of the drive transfer mechanism discussedabove. When two or more modules 1002 are coupled to one another, therespective drive transfer mechanisms housed within each module may alsobe coupled to one another to transfer the driving torque to therespective disk hub assemblies 212. The plurality of modules 1002 may bepositioned between a first end cap 1006 and a second end cap 1008. Thefirst and second end cap 1006, 1008 may be able to correspond with anynumber of modules 1002 positioned therebetween. Accordingly, any numberof modules 1002 can be coupled to one another along the cutterbar axis204, and this disclosure is not limited to any particular number ofmodules 1002.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a supplemental support beam1010 may span a substantial portion of the modular cutterbar 1000. Thebeam 1010 may be one integral component that spans the rear edge 226 ofthe modular cutterbar 1000 and is coupled to each module 1002. Morespecifically, the modular cutterbar 1000 may impact underlying objectsalong the underlying surface as described above. As the disk guard 224contacts the object, the modular cutterbar 1000 may deflect away fromthe underlying portion at the location of the object. The deflection ofa portion of the modular cutterbar 1000 may cause strain at one or moreof the joints 1004. The beam 1010 may provide additional structuralsupport to the modular cutterbar 1000 to strengthen the joints 1004 asthe modular cutterbar 1000 contacts the underlying object.

The modular cutterbar 1000 may be coupled to the work machine 100 in aplurality of different ways, and this disclosure is not limited to anyparticular coupling location or method. In one embodiment, the cutterbarassembly 1000 may be coupled to the work machine at each end through therespective first and second end cap 1006, 1008. In this embodiment, thecutterbar 1000 may sag along a middle section when the cutterbarassembly 1000 is raised by the first and second end cap 1006, 1008.Alternatively, when the cutterbar assembly 1000 contacts an underlyingobject a portion of the cutterbar assembly 1000 may arc or movevertically between the first and second end cap 1006, 1008. In anotherembodiment, the cutterbar assembly 1000 may be cantilevered to the workmachine 100 from only one of the end caps 1006, 1008 or at any one ofthe modules 1002 therebetween. In either embodiment, a vertical bendingmoment may be experienced by the cutterbar module proximate to thecoupling location(s).

In one non-exclusive aspect of the present disclosure, the second endcap 1008 may have an aperture 1020 integrally formed through the firstsurface 208 as shown in FIG. 10b . The aperture 1020 may be sized toreceive a disk hub assembly 212 in a similar way as described for eachmodule 1002 of the modular cutterbar 1000. The second end cap 1008 mayalso define a portion of the inner cavity 1144. In one embodiment, thesecond end cap 1008 may have a disk hub assembly 212 positioned therein.The second end cap 1008 may be coupled to any number of adjacent modules1002 and house a portion of the drive transfer mechanism within theinner cavity 1144. Further, the second end cap 1008 may also enclose theinner cavity to allow fluid to be contained therein along the modularcutterbar assembly 1000.

In one aspect of the second end cap 1008, a coupler arm 1022 may also beintegrally formed therewith. The coupler arm 1022 may provide astructural location to mount the modular cutterbar 1000 to the workmachine 100. In the non-exclusive example shown in FIG. 10b , thecoupler arm 1022 may extend opposite the harvest direction 110 away fromthe second end cap 1008. The coupler arm 1022 may define one or more armcouplers 1024 (FIG. 10c ) that provide a mounting location for themodular cutterbar 1000 to be removably coupled to the work machine 100with one or more fastener.

While a particular coupler arm 1022 is shown and described above, thecoupler arm 1022 is not limited to being shaped or positioned in thisparticular way. In one embodiment, the coupler arm 1022 is positionedalong the first surface 208. In another embodiment, the coupler arm ispositioned along an outer side of the second end cap 1008. The couplerarm 1022 can be positioned along any portion of the second end cap 1008without straying from the teachings of this disclosure.

A first joint 1026 may be positioned outside of the aperture 1020relative to the coupler arm 1022 by integrally forming the second endcap 1008 with the aperture 1020. More specifically, the aperture 1020may be positioned so a portion of the second end cap 1008 completelysurrounds, and provides a mounting location for, a corresponding diskhub assembly 212. This configuration allows the first joint 1026 toexperience a vertical bending moment to be positioned towards an innerportion of the modular cutterbar 1000 relative to the first aperture1020. A person having skill in the relevant art will understand that themodular cutterbar 1000 may experience the greatest vertical bendingmoment proximate to the coupler arm 1022 or other mounting location.Accordingly, by positioning the first joint 1026 towards the center ofthe modular cutterbar 1022 relative to the aperture 1020, the verticalbending moment experienced by the first joint 1026 is reduced.

While integrally forming an aperture 1020 into the second end cap 1008has been shown and described in detail herein, the same principles andteachings are equally applicable for the first end cap 1006. Morespecifically, the first end cap 1006 may also have an aperture for adisk hub assembly 212 integrally formed therein. In this embodiment,instead of having a joint 1004 between the first end cap 1006 and theadjacent module 1002 (as shown in FIG. 10a ), the adjacent module 1002may be integrally formed with the first end cap 1006 as described abovefor the second end cap 1008.

In addition to having an aperture 1020 integrally formed into the firstand second end caps 1006, 1008, the first and second end caps 1006, 1008may also have integrally formed therein at least one of, or both of, thefirst and second tabs 302, 304 for the disk guard 224. Morespecifically, regarding the second end cap 1008, the second tab 304 maybe integrally formed as part of the second end cap 1008. The second tab304 may allow the disk guard 224 to be coupled to the second tab 304 onone end, and to the first tab 302 of the adjacent module 1002 at theother end. The disk guard 224 may provide additional reinforcement tothe first joint 1026 when it is exposed to a vertical bending momentbecause the disk guard 224 is coupled between the second end cap 1008and the adjacent module 1002. The first end cap 1006 may similarlyutilize the disk guard 224 to provide supplemental reinforcement along afirst joint.

Now referring to FIG. 11a , a partial half-section view of severalmodules 1002 is shown. More specifically, the cross-section of the firstcoupler mount 1110 and a second coupler mount 1112 is shown. The firstcoupler mount 1110 may be along the front edge 206 and the secondcoupler mount 1112 may be along the rear edge 226 of the modularcutterbar 1000. Further, the first and second coupler mounts 1110, 1112may be at the respective joint 1004 of adjoining modules 1002.

The first and second coupler mounts 1110, 1112 may define respectivecoupler axes 1130 therein. The coupler axes 1130 may be substantiallyperpendicular to the surface plane of the joint 1004 to allow properalignment and a coupler clamping force between the adjacent modules1002. More specifically, in one non-exclusive embodiment, the shoulderbolt 1132 may be positioned at each of the first and second couplermounts 1110, 1112 along the coupler axis 1130. Each respective shoulderbolt 1132 may have a head portion 1134, a shoulder portion 1136, and athreaded portion 1138 as is known in the art.

Now referring to FIG. 11b , a partial section view of the first andsecond coupler mounts 1110, 1112 is shown. While only particular detailsfor the first coupler mount 1110 are described herein, the sameteachings and principles are equally appropriate for the second couplermount 1112.

The first and second coupler mounts 1110, 1112 may correspond with thesize and shape of the shoulder bolt 1132. More specifically, the firstcoupler mount 1110 may have a through-hole defined in a first boss 1116that corresponds with the diameter of the shoulder portion of theshoulder bolt 1132. Further, the first coupler mount 1110 may have afirst partial through-hole 1118 that contain threads along the threadedportion 1138 and that corresponds with the threads on the shoulder bolt1132. In one aspect of the present disclosure the shoulder portion 1136may extend at least partially through the joint 1004. In thisconfiguration, the shoulder portion 1136 of the shoulder bolt 1132 mayalign the adjacent modules 1002 with one another as they are coupledtogether.

While a shoulder bolt 1132 has been specifically described herein, thisdisclosure is not limited to utilizing a shoulder bolt 1132 as acoupling mechanism. More specifically, an entirely threaded bolt may beused instead of a shoulder bolt. In this embodiment, one or more dowelsor other similar locator may be positioned between the adjacent modules1002 to ensure proper alignment while a fastener couples adjacentmodules to one another. In another embodiment, the threaded bolt may notrequire a dowel or locator. Further, any other similar couplingmechanism is also considered herein and this disclosure is not limitedto any particular type of coupling mechanism at the first and secondcoupler mount 1110, 1112.

Another non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure is the position ofthe coupler axis 1130 relative to the joint 1004. As briefly describedabove, the coupler axis 1130 may be substantially perpendicular to thesurface plane at the joint 1004. In this configuration, the shoulderbolt 1132 may apply a compressive force on adjacent modules 1002 at thejoint 1004 as the proper torque is applied to the shoulder bolt 1132.More specifically, by positioning the coupler axis 1130 perpendicular tothe surface plane of the joint 1004, the compressive force applied by aproperly coupled shoulder bolt 1132 directly pulls and couples theadjacent modules 1002 together along the joint 1004.

A shoulder portion length 1140 may also allow the first coupler mount1110 to be positioned close to a pinion gear 1508 (or other drivemechanism for the second coupler mount 1112) while allowing sufficientaccess to the bolt head 1134. In one embodiment, the coupler axis 1130is spaced from the outer radius of the pinion gear 1508 by a definedclearance 1142. The clearance 1142 may be as small as possible whileallowing sufficient strength in the housing 202 and avoidinginterference with the pinion gear 1508. In one non-exclusive example,the clearance 1142 may be between fifteen and thirty-five millimeters(15-35 mm).

Further, the shoulder portion length 1140 may be long enough to positionthe head portion 1134 of the shoulder bolt 1132 sufficiently away fromthe pinion gear 1508 to avoid contact therewith. The shoulder portionlength 1140 may also position the head portion 1134 along the front edge206 to allow access thereto (or rear edge for the second coupler mount1112).

In one aspect of the above embodiment, the joints 1004 may be angularlyoffset from the harvest direction 110 at a joint angle 1128. As shown inFIG. 11b , the joint angle 1128 may be any angle, but in onenonexclusive example the joint angle 1128 is between five andtwenty-five degrees (5-25°) relative to the harvest direction 110.Further, as described above, the first and second coupler mounts 1110,1112 define respective coupler axes 1130 that are perpendicular to thesurface plane of the joint 1004. Accordingly, the coupler axes 1130 arealso angularly offset from and not perpendicular to, the harvestdirection 110. The offset and non-perpendicular disposition of the joint1004 and the coupler axis 1130 relative to the harvest direction 110 mayprovide for both minimizing the clearance 1142 and allowing access tothe head portion 1134 as described above.

The first and second coupler mounts 1110, 1112 may also be disposedalong the respective front and rear edge 206, 226 at a location betweenplanes defined by the top surface 208 and the bottom surface 210 as ismore clearly shown in FIG. 5. In this position, the first and secondcoupler mounts 1110, 1112 may not substantially increase the thicknessof the cutterbar assembly, thereby allowing the knives 316 to becomeclosely positioned to the underlying surface.

The first and second coupler mounts 1110, 1112 may also be disposed insubstantially opposite directions relative to one another. A firstmodule 1104 and a second module 1108 may be shown coupled to one anotherin FIG. 11b . In this embodiment, the first partial through-hole 1118 ofthe first coupler mount 1110 may be defined in the first module 1104while a second partial through-hole 1122 of the second coupler mount1112 may be defined in the second module 1108. By positioning the firstand second coupler mounts 1110, 1112 in substantially oppositeorientations along the joint 104, the head portion 1134 of therespective shoulder bolts 1132 may be angularly positioned away from thecutterbar axis 204 and allow easy access while maintaining the spatialadvantages described above. Similarly, the respective partialthrough-hole 1118, 1122 may be angularly positioned towards thecutterbar axis 204, reducing the amount of added material required onthe respective front and rear edge 206, 226.

While a particular angle and orientation of the joint 1004 and coupleraxis 1130 has been described above, this disclosure is not limited tosuch a configuration. Rather, any angular orientation of the joint andthe coupler axis 1130 is considered herein. More specifically, the joint1004 may be positioned at different angles relative to the harvestdirection 110 to maximize access to the couplers or shoulder bolts 1132.Further, any joint angle 1128 that produces a minimal clearance 1142 isalso considered herein. Further still, while the coupler axis 1130 hasbeen shown and described as being perpendicular to the surface plane ofthe joint 1004, it can also be angularly offset at any angle therefrom.Accordingly, this disclosure is not limited to the particularconfigurations and angles described above or shown in the accompanyingfigures.

In another embodiment, the joint 1004 may be a compound miter-typejoint. More specifically, in addition to being angled greater than zerorelative to the direction of travel 110, the surface plane of the joint1004 may not be perpendicular relative to the first surface 208. Inother words, the surface plane of the joint 1004 may be angled greaterthan zero relative to the direction of travel 110 and not perpendicularto the first surface 208.

Now referring to FIG. 11c , an expanded joint 1004 is shown. Morespecifically, a first coupling end 1102 of the first module 1104 isshown spaced from a second coupling end 1106 of the second module 1108.In addition to the first coupler mount 1110 and the second coupler mount1112, the first and second module 1104, 1108 may be coupled to oneanother through a third coupler mount 1114.

The first coupler mount 1110 may be positioned substantially along thefront edge 206 of the modular cutterbar 1000 as described in more detailabove. Further, in one non-exclusive embodiment, the first coupler mount1110 may be a through-hole defined in the first boss 1116 of the secondmodule 1108 that aligns with the first partial through-hole 1118 definedin the first module 1104 when the first and second module 1104, 1108 arecoupled to one another. Further, the first boss 1116 and through-hole ofthe second module 1108 may correspond with the shaft and head size ofthe shoulder bolt 1132. Similarly, the shaft of the shoulder bolt 1132may have a threaded portion that corresponds with the first partialthrough-hole 1118 defined in the first module 1104 at the first coupler1110.

The second coupler mount 1112 may be substantially similar to the firstcoupler mount 1110 albeit positioned along the rear edge 226 of themodular cutterbar 1000 as described above. In one non-exclusiveembodiment, the second coupler mount 1112 may be a through-hole definedin a second boss 1120 of the first module 1104 that aligns with thesecond partial through-hole 1122 defined in the second module 1108 whenthe first and second module 1104, 1108 are coupled to one another.Further, the second boss 1120 and the through-hole of the first module1104 may also correspond with the shaft and head size of the shoulderbolt 1132. Similarly, the shaft of the shoulder bolt 1132 may have athreaded portion that corresponds to the second partial through-hole1122 defined in the second module 1108 at the second coupler 1112.

The third coupler mount 1114 may protrude at least partially from thefirst surface 208. Further, the third coupler mount 1114 may bepositioned near the front edge 206 or the rear edge 226 or at any pointtherebetween on module 1104 with corresponding attachment points inadjacent module 1108. The third coupler mount 1114 may have a third boss1124 that defines a through-hole positioned in the first module 1104 anda third partial through-hole 1126 defined in the second module 1108. Thethird boss 1124 and third threaded partial through-hole 1126 may besized to receive a bolt.

While each coupler mount 1110, 1112, and 1114 has been described toutilize a bolt as a coupling mechanism, this disclosure is not limitedto such a configuration. Rather, any known coupling method for couplingtwo components to one another is considered herein. More specifically, aclamping mechanism may utilize the coupler mounts 1110, 1112, 1114 tocouple the first module 1104 to the second module 1108. Further still,welds, adhesives, soldering, or the like may also be used to couple therespective coupling mounts 1110, 1112, 1114 to one another. Accordingly,this disclosure is not limited by any particular method for coupling thecoupling mounts 1110, 1112, 1114 to one another.

Referring now to FIG. 12, the third coupler mount 1114 is more clearlyshown. Also shown in FIG. 12 is the aperture 1020 sized to accommodatethe disk hub assembly 212. The aperture 1020 may allow the disk hubassembly 212 to be coupled to the drive transfer mechanism in the innercavity 1144. In one embodiment, positioning the third coupler mount 1114close to the aperture 1020 allows the third coupler mount 1114 toprotrude away from the first surface 208 and into a toroidal cavity 1302(FIG. 13) created between the top surface 208 and the cutting disk 214.

In FIG. 13, a cross-sectional view of one module 1002 at the secondcoupling end 1106 with the disk hub assembly 212 coupled thereto isshown. The toroidal cavity 1302 may be defined circumferentially aboutthe disk axis 218. Further, the boundaries of the toroidal cavity 1302may be defined by the first surface 208, the cutting disk 214, andcomponents of the disk hub assembly 212. More specifically, the cuttingdisk 214 may have a bowl-shaped form and in one non-exclusive embodimentthe cutting disk 214 may have an elongated bowl-shaped form. The cuttingdisk 214 may be coupled to the disk hub assembly 212 at a locationoffset and away from the first surface 208. Further, the bowl-shapedform of the cutting disk 214 may allow the cutting disk 214 to becomingaxially closer to the first surface 208 as it extends radially away fromthe disk axis 218. Accordingly, as the cutting disk 214 rotates, it doesnot interfere with the toroidal cavity 1302.

In this embodiment, the third coupler mount 1114 may be offset away fromthe first surface 208 and partially positioned within the toroidalcavity 1302. In another aspect of this embodiment, the knives 216 may becoupled to the cutting disk 214 and able to rotate about the disk axis218 to define a knife plane 1304. The knife plane 1304 may be parallelto, but offset from, the first surface 208. Further still, in onenon-limiting aspect of the present disclosure, the mounting location forthe third coupler mount 1114 may extend away from the first surface 208and at least partially into the knife plane 1304 as shown in FIG. 13.

Another embodiment of one module 1002 at the second coupling end 1106with the disk hub assembly 212 coupled thereto is shown is shown in FIG.20. In FIG. 13, the disk guard outer surface is defined in a manner thatis substantially coplanar with the housing outer surface. In FIG. 20,however, a top surface 2000 of the disk guard 224 may be angleddownwardly relative to the knife plane 1304, and in particular, to thehousing outer surface. The downward angle of the top surface 2000 may beless than 30°, but it is angled in such a way that allows for more diskguard deflection without contacting the disk.

Now referring to FIG. 14, a partial view of the cutterbar assembly 1000is shown. In this view, a side view of a coupler plane 1402 that passesthrough the first and second coupler axes 1130 is shown. Also shown inFIG. 14 may be a third coupler axis 1404 that is defined through thethird coupler mount 1114 along the length of the modular cutterbarassembly 1000.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the rigidity of the modularcutterbar assembly 1000 may be increased across the respective modules1002 by offsetting the third coupler axis 1404 from the coupler plane1402. More specifically, with the third coupler mount 1114 being offsetfrom the coupler plane 1402, bending moments applied to the modularcutterbar assembly 1000 may be substantially resisted without allowingadjacent modules 1002 to separate at their corresponding joints 1004.

In addition to utilizing the offset third coupler mount 1114 to increaserigidity, the position or location of the disk guard 224 may alsoincrease rigidity of the modular cutterbar assembly 1000. Referring tothe disk guards 224 shown in FIG. 3, the disk guard 224 may be coupledto the first module 1104 at the first tab 302 and to the second module1108 at the second tab 304. In this embodiment, the disk guard 224 mayspan the joint 1004 to provide additional rigidity to the modularcutterbar assembly 1000 at each joint 1004.

The one or more extensions 602 of the disk guard 224 shown in FIG. 6 mayprovide additional rigidity to the modular cutterbar assembly 1000. Theextensions 602 can extend along a portion of the first and second module1104, 1108 to ensure the joint 1004 remains properly aligned. Furtherstill, in one embodiment the extension 602 may extend from a portion ofthe first module 1104, across the joint 1004, and to a portion of thesecond module 1108. In this embodiment, the extension 602 may provideadditional structural support to ensure that the joint 1004 may notsubstantially separate when the modular cutterbar assembly 1000experiences a force input.

In one embodiment of the modular cutterbar assembly 200, 1000, the diskhub assembly 212 may reduce the amount of debris that can become tangledtherearound during operation. To more clearly show this non-exclusivefeature of the present disclosure, FIG. 15 illustrates an exploded viewof the disk hub assembly 212 along the disk axis 218. More specifically,the disk hub assembly 212 may have a shear or disk hub 1502, a quill orbearing housing 1504, a bearing 1506, and a shaft 1512 coupled to thepinion gear 1508. More specifically, the aperture 1020 may provide alocation for the drive transfer mechanism to transfer torque from theinner cavity 1144 to the cutting disk 214 (cutting disk not shown inFIG. 15).

In one aspect of this embodiment, the bearing housing 1504 may beremovably coupled to the housing 202 about the aperture 1020. In thisembodiment, the bearing housing 1504 may have a through-hole definedtherein that corresponds in diameter with the bearing 1506. Accordingly,when the bearing housing 1504 is coupled to the housing 202, the bearing1506 may be mounted to the bearing housing 1504 and aligned along thedisk axis 218.

The bearing 1508 may also have an inner diameter that corresponds withthe shaft 1512 that extends from the pinion gear 1508 away from theinner cavity 1144. The bearing 1508 may allow the shaft 1512, and inturn the pinion gear 1508, to rotate about the disk axis 218. In oneembodiment, the drive transfer mechanism may provide a torque to thepinion gear 1508 causing the shaft 1512 to rotate within the bearing1506.

The shaft 1512 may extend sufficiently away from the pinion gear 1508 toallow the disk hub 1502 to be coupled thereto. The disk hub 1502 mayhave a splined through-hole that corresponds with a splined outersurface of the shaft 1512. In this embodiment, the splined engagement ofthe shaft 1512 to the disk hub 1502 may allow the shaft 1512 to transfertorque from the drive transfer mechanism to the disk hub 1502. In onenon-exclusive example of the splined coupling of the disk hub 1502 tothe shaft 1512, the splines may be sized to shear when the disk hub 1502substantially resists rotation. In this embodiment, the drive transfermechanism may be substantially protected from damage when the disk hub1502 is restricted from rotating. More specifically, if the disk hub1502 cannot rotate when sufficient torque is being distributed throughthe shaft 1512, the splines coupling the disk hub 1502 to the shaft 1512may shear, allowing the shaft 1512 to rotate within the disk hub 1502and thereby substantially protecting the components of the drivetransfer mechanism.

The disk hub 1502 may be held in proper axial positioning relative tothe shaft 1512 with a shaft spacer 1516 and coupler 1514 that removablycouple to a distal end of the shaft 1512. The shaft spacer 1516 mayensure the disk hub 1502 remains axially positioned correctly along theshaft 1512, and the shaft coupler 1514 may restrict the shaft spacer1516 from moving axially away from the disk hub 1502. The cutting disk214 may then be coupled to the disk hub 1502 and rotate about the diskaxis 218.

While one method of coupling the bearing housing 1504, the disk hub1502, and the shaft/pinion gear 1512, 1508 has been shown and describedabove, this disclosure is not limited to any particular coupling method.A person with skill in the relevant art understands the many ways torotatably couple components to one another and this disclosure considersany known method.

Now referring to FIG. 16a , a cross-section view of the disk hubassembly 212 is shown with the disk hub assembly 212 coupled to thehousing 202 and the cutting disk 214. More specifically shown in FIG.16a is a labyrinth 1602 defined in the disk hub 1502 and the bearinghousing 1504 circumferentially about the disk axis 218. The labyrinth1602 may be a plurality of rings, passages, channels or grooves definedbetween the disk hub 1502 and the bearing housing 1504. The labyrinth1602 may be shaped to allow the disk hub 1502 to rotate withoutsubstantially contacting the bearing housing 1504 while alsosubstantially restricting debris from passing through the labyrinth 1602and becoming disposed proximate to the bearing 1506.

In one non-exclusive example of the labyrinth 1602, the bearing housing1504 may have an annular ring 1604 defined circumferentially about thedisk axis 218 and that extends axially away from a bearing housingsurface 1606. Correspondingly, the disk hub 1502 may have acircumferentially defined channel disposed axially adjacent to theraised annular ring 1604 of the bearing housing 1504.

Radially inward of the raised annular ring 1604 may be a first recessedannular groove 1608 defined within the bearing housing 1504. Therecessed annular groove 1608 may be a groove defined circumferentiallyabout the disk axis 218 and recessed axially into the bearing housingsurface 1606 towards the pinion gear 1508. The disk hub 1502 may alsohave a corresponding third annular ring 1624 that may be substantiallypositioned within the recessed annular groove 1608.

A wedge-shaped protrusion 1610 may be defined by the disk hub 1502 at aradially outermost portion of the labyrinth 1602. More specifically, asshown in FIG. 16a , the wedge-shaped protrusion 1610 may be radiallyadjacent to the raised annular ring 1604. Further, as shown in FIG. 17,the wedge-shaped protrusion 1610 may have a leading edge 1702 thatsubstantially severs any debris that may become positioned proximate tothe labyrinth 1602. In this embodiment, not only does the labyrinth 1602substantially restrict debris from passing therethrough andcontaminating the bearing 1506, the wedge-shape protrusion 1610 may alsorotate with the disk hub 1502 and thereby sever any fibrous debris thatmay become positioned along the raised annular ring 1604.

Yet another aspect of the embodiment shown in FIG. 16a may include adebris diverter or barrier 1612 integrally formed by the bearing housing1504. The diverter or barrier 1612 may be arc-shaped and extend in adirection substantially parallel to the disk axis and away from thebearing housing surface 1606. As shown, the barrier 1612 may be disposedtowards the front edge 206. The barrier 1612 is shown as beingarc-shaped, but in other embodiments it may be wedge-shaped or includeany known type of shape. In operation, the barrier 1612 may bepositioned and sized to substantially restrict debris from becomingdisposed proximate to the labyrinth 1602. More specifically, as thecutterbar assembly 200 travels in the harvest direction 110, the cuttingdisk 214 may rotate the knives 216 coupled thereto. As the knives 216rotate and the work machine 100 travels in the harvesting direction 110,crop or other debris may become positioned between the cutting disk 214and the housing 202. Under these circumstances, the barrier 1612 maysubstantially block or divert the crop or debris from passing thereoverand becoming disposed proximate to or within the labyrinth 1602.Accordingly, the barrier 1612, the labyrinth 1602, and the wedge-shapedprotrusion 1610 may each substantially restrict debris from becomingdisposed within or around the bearing 1506.

Referring now to 16 b, the corresponding labyrinths 1602 are shown anddescribed in more detail. More specifically shown in FIG. 16b may be theradial disposition of some of the features of the correspondinglabyrinths 1602. In one non-limiting example, the first annular ring1604 may be circumferentially disposed about the disk axis 218 at afirst radius 1614 therefrom. The first annular ring 1604 may extendaxially away from the bearing housing surface 1606 as described above.The first recessed annular groove 1608 may also be defined in thebearing housing 1504 and be radially inward of the first annular ring1604. The first recessed annular groove 1608 may be defined at a secondradius 1616 about the disk axis 218, the second radius 1616 being lessthan the first radius 1614.

A second annular ring 1618 may also be defined in the bearing housing1504. The second annular ring 1618 may extend away from the bearinghousing surface 1606 in a similar way as described above for the firstannular ring 1604. However, the second annular ring 1618 may becircumferentially defined in the bearing housing 1504 at a third radius1620 from the disk axis 218, the third radius 1620 being less than thesecond radius 1616.

As described above, the disk hub 1502 may have features that correspondwith the first annular ring 1604, the first recessed annular groove1608, and the second annular ring 1618 defined in the bearing housing1504. In one non-limiting example, a second recessed annular groove 1622may be defined in the disk hub 1502 at the third radius 1620. The secondrecessed annular groove 1622 may correspond inversely with the secondannular ring 1618 of the bearing housing 1504. In other words, thesecond annular groove 1622 receives a portion of the second annular ring1618 therein when the disk hub 1502 is positioned axially adjacent tothe bearing housing 1504 as shown in FIG. 16 b.

Similarly, a third annular ring 1624 may be defined circumferentiallyabout the disk axis 218 within the disk hub 1502. The third annular ring1624 may be spaced by the second radius 1616 from the disk axis 218 andcorrespond with the first recessed annular groove 1608 of the bearinghousing 1504. More specifically, the third annular ring 1624 of the diskhub 1502 may be sized and shaped to substantially fill the first annulargroove 1608 of the bearing housing 1504 when the disk hub 1502 iscoupled adjacent to the bearing housing 1504.

The labyrinth 1602 shown and described above identifies a specificnumber of raised annular rings and recessed annular grooves, but thisdisclosure is not limited to any particular number or configuration asshown in FIGS. 16a-16b . Any number of corresponding rings and groovescan be defined between the bearing housing 1504 and the disk hub 1502.In one embodiment, there may be one raised annular ring defined ineither the disk hub 1502 or the bearing housing 1504 and onecorresponding annular groove 1608 defined in either the disk hub 1502 orthe bearing housing 1504. In yet another embodiment, there may be morethan one annular ring defined between the disk hub 1502 and the bearinghousing 1504. Accordingly, this disclosure is not limited to anyparticular number of rings and corresponding grooves defined in thelabyrinth 1602.

Now referring to FIG. 17, a partial section view of the disk hubassembly 212 is shown. In this non-exclusive embodiment, a leading edge1702 is shown on the wedge-shaped protrusion 1610. The leading edge 1702may be positioned on the portion of the wedge-shaped protrusion 1610that leads as it rotates about the disk axis 218. Further, in oneembodiment the leading edge 1702 may be defined on either side of thewedge-shaped protrusion 1610. In this embodiment, a leading edge 1702may sever any debris disposed thereby regardless of the rotationaldirection of the disk hub 1502.

In addition to severing debris with the leading edge 1702, thewedge-shaped protrusion 1610 may be shaped to dispel debris positionedthereby away from the bearing 1506. More specifically, the wedge-shapemay initially contact and sever debris at the leading edge 1702, thenthe debris may be forced radially away from the disk axis 218 as ittravels along the wedge-shaped protrusion 1610 as it extends radiallyaway from the disk axis 218.

Another aspect of the embodiment shown in FIG. 17 may be the spacingbetween the annular ring 1604 and the arc-shaped barrier 1612. In onenon-limiting example, debris may become positioned between the annularring 1604 and the barrier 1612. As the disk hub 1502 rotates thewedge-shaped protrusions 1610, the debris disposed between the barrier1612 and the annular ring 1604 may be forced away from the disk axis 218as described above but substantially restricted from being ejected inthe harvest direction 110. More specifically, the barrier 1612 mayrestrict debris from becoming positioned adjacent to the annular ring1604 while simultaneously restricting debris from being emitted by thewedge-shaped protrusion 1610 towards the harvest direction 110.

While the wedge-shaped portion 1610 has been shown and described asbeing wedge-shaped and having a leading edge, this disclosure is notlimited to that particular shape. In one non-exclusive embodiment, thisfeature may not be wedge-shaped. Rather, it may be formed as a blade orother sharp feature that can cut through debris. Accordingly, thisdisclosure is not limited to any particular shape of the wedge-shapedprotrusion shown and described above.

While exemplary embodiments incorporating the principles of the presentdisclosure have been described herein, the present disclosure is notlimited to such embodiments. Instead, this application is intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this disclosure pertains.

1. A rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly for diverting debris,comprising: a cutterbar housing defining an internal cavity; a bearinghousing defining an axis and coupled to the cutterbar housing, where thebearing is configured to be coupled to the bearing housing; a labyrinthdefined in the bearing housing circumferentially about the axis; abarrier formed by the bearing housing at a location radially outward ofthe labyrinth; a disk hub positioned concentric with the axis andcoupled to the bearing housing and cutterbar housing, the disk hubforming at least one protrusion that extends towards the bearing housingand is radially adjacent to the labyrinth; wherein, the barrierrestricts a portion of the debris from entering the labyrinth, and theat least one protrusion severs debris that is disposed near thelabyrinth as the disk hub rotates.
 2. The rotary cutterbar disk hubassembly of claim 1, wherein the labyrinth comprises: a first annularring disposed at a first radial distance from the axis; a first recessedannular groove disposed adjacent to the first annular ring at a secondradial distance from the axis; and a second annular ring disposedradially adjacent to the first recessed annular groove at a third radialdistance from the axis; wherein, the second radial distance is less thanthe first radial distance and greater than the third radial distance. 3.The rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly of claim 2, further comprising asecond labyrinth defined in the disk hub and coupled to the labyrinth,the second labyrinth comprising a second recessed annular groovedisposed at the third radial distance from the axis and a third annularring disposed radially adjacent to the second recessed annular groove atthe second radial distance from the axis.
 4. The rotary cutterbar diskhub assembly of claim 1, wherein the barrier extends in a direction fromthe bearing housing towards the disk hub on a cutting side of thebearing housing.
 5. The rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly of claim 4,wherein the barrier is circumferentially disposed less than 360 degreesaround the bearing housing.
 6. The rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion has a wedge shape adaptedto divert debris positioned along the radially outer portion of thelabyrinth away from the axis as the disk hub rotates relative to thebearing housing.
 7. The rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly of claim 1,wherein the barrier comprises an arc shape.
 8. A modular rotarycutterbar assembly for diverting debris during a mowing operation,comprising: a modular cutterbar having an internal cavity definedtherein, the modular cutterbar comprising a plurality of cutterbarmodules coupled to one another along a cutterbar axis; each cutterbarmodule comprising: a cutterbar housing including an aperture definedtherein to provide access to the internal cavity; a bearing housingdefining a disk axis and coupled to the cutterbar housing; a bearingcoupled to the bearing housing and disposed about the disk axis; alabyrinth defined in the bearing housing circumferentially about thedisk axis; a barrier defined by the bearing housing at a locationoutwardly of the labyrinth; a disk hub positioned concentric with thedisk axis and coupled to the bearing housing, the disk hub forming atleast one protrusion that extends towards the bearing housing and isradially adjacent to the labyrinth; wherein, the barrier restricts aportion of the debris from entering the labyrinth, and the at least oneprotrusion severs debris that is disposed near the labyrinth as the diskhub rotates.
 9. The modular rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly of claim8, further wherein the labyrinth comprises: a first annular ringdisposed at a first radial distance from the disk axis; a first recessedannular groove disposed adjacent to the first annular ring at a secondradial distance from the disk axis; and a second annular ring disposedradially adjacent to the first recessed annular groove at a third radialdistance from the disk axis; wherein, the second radial distance is lessthan the first radial distance and greater than the third radialdistance.
 10. The modular rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly of claim 9,further comprising a second labyrinth defined in the disk hub andcoupled to the labyrinth, the second labyrinth comprising a secondrecessed annular groove disposed at the third radial distance from thedisk axis and a third annular ring disposed radially adjacent to thesecond recessed annular groove at the second radial distance from thedisk axis.
 11. The modular rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly of claim8, wherein the barrier extends in a direction from the bearing housingtowards the disk hub on a cutting side of the bearing housing.
 12. Themodular rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly of claim 11, wherein thebarrier is circumferentially disposed less than 360 degrees around thebearing housing.
 13. The modular rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly ofclaim 8, wherein the at least one protrusion has a wedge shape adaptedto divert debris positioned along the radially outer portion of thelabyrinth away from the axis as the disk hub rotates relative to thebearing housing.
 14. The modular rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly ofclaim 8, wherein the barrier comprises an arc shape or wedge shape. 15.The modular rotary cutterbar disk hub assembly of claim 8, furthercomprising: a prime mover for generating torque; a torque transferdevice positioned within the internal cavity of each of the plurality ofcutterbar modules; a shaft coupled to the torque transfer device andextending through the internal cavity; a bearing disposed within thebearing housing and concentric about the disk axis; at least one splinedefined by the shaft and coupling the disk hub to the shaft; wherein,when the torque generated by the prime mover is substantially resistedby the disk hub, the at least one spline is adapted to shear from thedisk hub.
 16. A system for reducing debris infiltration into a bearingof a cutterbar assembly, comprising: a work machine having a chassis; atleast one ground engaging mechanism coupled to the chassis and adaptedto provide movement to the work machine; a prime mover coupled to thechassis and adapted to selectively provide power to the work machine; arotary cutterbar assembly coupled to the chassis, the cutterbar assemblycomprising: a cutterbar housing that defines an internal cavity and hasa cutting side; an aperture in the cutterbar housing providing access tothe internal cavity; a bearing housing defining an axis and coupled tothe cutterbar housing; a bearing coupled to the bearing housing anddisposed concentric with the axis; a first annular ring defined in thebearing housing concentric about the axis; a barrier formed by thebearing housing for diverting debris; a shaft extending through thebearing; a disk hub positioned concentric with the axis and coupled tothe shaft; a second annular ring formed by the disk hub at a radialdistance closer to the axis than the first annular ring, the secondannular ring extending away from the disk hub towards the bearinghousing; at least one protrusion formed by the disk hub extendingtowards the bearing housing and at a radial distance further from theaxis than the first annular ring; wherein, the barrier restricts aportion of the debris from entering the labyrinth, and the at least oneprotrusion severs debris that is disposed near the labyrinth as the diskhub rotates.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the bearing housingfurther comprises: a first recessed annular groove circumferentiallydisposed about the axis at a radial distance closer to the axis than thefirst annular ring; and a second annular ring radially disposed from theaxis at a distance that is closer than the first recessed annulargroove.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the disk hub comprises: asecond recessed annular groove disposed about the axis that correspondsto the same radial distance from the axis as the second annular ring ofthe bearing housing; and a third annular ring radially disposed from theaxis at a radial distance that corresponds with the same radial distanceof the first recessed annular groove from the axis; wherein, when thedisk hub is coupled to the bearing housing, the third annular ring is atleast partially disposed within the first recessed annular groove. 19.The system of claim 18, wherein when the disk hub is coupled to thebearing housing, the second annular ring is at least partially disposedwithin the second recessed annular groove.
 20. The system of claim 18,wherein the at least one protrusion has a wedge shape that is adapted tomove debris positioned along the radially outer portion of the firstannular ring away from the axis as the disk hub rotates relative to thebearing housing.